2004 Chevrolet SILVERADO 1500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
793 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
68,541 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 700 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 229 of 793 complaints (28.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 344 | 43.4% |
| Steering behavior | 74 | 9.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 32 | 4.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 28 | 3.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 12 | 1.5% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 0.5% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 229 |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 159 |
| Electrical System | 106 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 67 |
| Steering | 65 |
| Air Bags | 32 |
| Engine | 18 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 18 |
Service Brakes: 229; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 159; Electrical System: 106; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 67; Steering: 65; Air Bags: 32; Engine: 18; Vehicle Speed Control: 18
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 68 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 150 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 171 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 148 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 118 |
| 150,000 and above | 45 |
Under 25,000: 68; 25,000 to 49,999: 150; 50,000 to 74,999: 171; 75,000 to 99,999: 148; 100,000 to 149,999: 118; 150,000 and above: 45
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (171). 93 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 10 |
| 2006 | 36 |
| 2007 | 94 |
| 2008 | 108 |
| 2009 | 80 |
| 2010 | 50 |
| 2011 | 53 |
| 2012 | 39 |
| 2013 | 76 |
| 2014 | 97 |
| 2015 | 53 |
| 2016 | 36 |
| 2017 | 22 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 8 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 6 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2002: 2; 2003: 1; 2004: 3; 2005: 10; 2006: 36; 2007: 94; 2008: 108; 2009: 80; 2010: 50; 2011: 53; 2012: 39; 2013: 76; 2014: 97; 2015: 53; 2016: 36; 2017: 22; 2018: 4; 2019: 8; 2020: 5; 2021: 5; 2022: 1; 2023: 3; 2024: 6; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 344 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 74 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 32 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10117864 · 2005-04-12 (April 12, 2005)
PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE EQUIPMENT ON 2004 CHEVROLET 1500.*MR THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT THE BRAKES FELT SPONGY AS IF THERE WAS AIR IN THE BRAKE LINES. THE VEHICLE HAD NO SOPPING POWER AND THE CONSUMER HAD TO STAND ON THE BRAKES TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOUR TIME BUT THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10117864 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10126369 · 2005-06-23 (June 23, 2005)
I HAD SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES ON MY 2004 CHEVY SILVERADO K1500. THE DEALER LOOKED AT IT 3 TIMES AND SAID EVERYTHING WAS OK, BUT THE DELAER NEVER EVEN DROVE IT TO CHECK OUT MY COMPLAINT. THIS VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 12,000 MILES ON IT AND IT WOULD NOT STOP ON A SHARP DECLINE UNLESS THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS CONSTANTLY HELD ALL THE WAY ON THE FLOOR. I PAID AN OUTSIDE COMPNAY TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE CHEVY DELAER WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING TO FIX THIS UNSAFE VEHICLE. I HAVE SINCE SOLD THE VEHICLE BUT HAVE SPOKEN TO OTHER CHEVY K1500 OWNERS WH…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10126369 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10129556 · 2005-07-21 (July 21, 2005)
THE POWER STEERING GEAR WAS LEAKING, AND THEN REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AT. THE STEERING GEAR STILL HAS NOT BEEN ADJUSTED PROPERLY AFTER SEVERAL COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE DEALER.
Owner-reported narrative. 9,230 miles reported. Look up ODI 10129556 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10142507 · 2005-11-12 (November 12, 2005)
I CURRENTLY OWN A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 SERIES. OVER THE PAST MONTH THERE HAS BEEN A VIBRATION IN THE TRUCK. IT DOES NOT VIBRATE ALL THE TIME, BUT WHEN IT DOES IT IS VERY NOTICEABLE. IT USUALLY VIBRATES AT SPEEDS FROM 45 MPH TO 70 MPH. I HAD REPLACED THE ORIGINAL TIRES ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO AND THAT DID NOT HELP. I'VE HAD IT IN THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES IN THE PAST THREE WEEKS. THEY REPLACED A REAR U-JOINT, WHICH DID NOT HELP. THE LAST TIME IT WAS IN THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY CAN NOT FIND WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT SO IT HAS TO BE MY…
Owner-reported narrative. 38,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10142507 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10217504 · 2008-02-08 (February 8, 2008)
CLUNKING SOUNDS FROM TRANSMISSION/DRIVETRAIN. GENERALLY LOUDER WHEN SHIFTING INTO 2ND GEAR. HAVE MENTIONED TO DEALER A COUPLE OF TIMES AND WAS TOLD IT IS NORMAL. THIS IS A WIDELY KNOWN ISSUE ON THE WEB. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 24,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10217504 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10189120 · 2007-04-27 (April 27, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD MOLDING HAD TO BE REPLACED ON THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED, THE STEERING COLUMN WAS LOOSE, AND THE REAR AXLE SEAL WAS REPLACED. THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE AND WERE REPLACED AS WELL. THE VEHICLE HAS UNDERGONE NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL FAILURES WHICH WERE STILL OCCURRING. THE VEHICLE HAD SIXTEEN FAILURES, AND HAD BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON NINE OCCASIONS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 31,000, AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 22 miles reported. Look up ODI 10189120 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10213832 · 2008-01-06 (January 6, 2008)
THE ONLY GAUGES WORKING ON MY 04 CHEVROLET Z71 ARE THE TEMPERATURE AND BATTERY GAUGE. THE OTHER GAUGES WENT OUT AROUND 40,000 MILES. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10213832 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10133315 · 2005-08-18 (August 18, 2005)
DT: 2004 CHEVROLET 6500 TRUCK. THE CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE STEP TO GET INTO THE VEHICLE. HE FELL OFF THE TRUCK AND BROKE HIS HIP. THE FUEL TANK ON THE VEHICLE IS ROUND, AND THE STEPS ARE MOUNTED TO THE SIDE OF THE TANK. THE SECOND STEP THE SAFETY GRIP DOES NOT EXTEND ALL THE WAY TO THE EDGE. THE CALLER DOES NOT OWN THIS VEHICLE, THE VIN IS NOT AVAILABLE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10133315 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10163296 · 2006-07-24 (July 24, 2006)
DT: THE CONTACT STATED, THE BREAK PEDAL WAS POSITIONED ALMOST TO THE FLOOR, MAKING STOPPING DIFFICULT. ALSO, THERE WAS A LOUD POPPING SOUND, (BA-BANG) FROM THE AREA OF THE FUEL TANK, WITHIN A FEW MINUTES OF TURNING OFF THE IGNITION. BOTH ISSUES HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED WITH THE DEALER AND NO SOLUTION WAS FOUND FOR THE BREAKS AND CHANGING THE BRAND OF FUEL WAS SUGGESTED FOR THE POPPING SOUND. BOTH ISSUES CONTINUE UNRESOLVED.
Owner-reported narrative. 7,359 miles reported. Look up ODI 10163296 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10283428 · 2009-09-09 (September 9, 2009)
SPEEDOMETER AND GAS GAUGE DEFECTIVE. SPEEDOMETER WILL NOT WORK AT ALL. GAS GAUGE WILL NOT SHOW PROPER FUEL LEVEL. ALOT OF 2005 GM OWNERS ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM, THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. SPEEDOMETER, CAN'T TELL HOW FAST WE ARE GOING. IF THE GAS GAUGE IS NOT WORKING COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF THE VEHICLE STALLS ON THE HIGHWAY, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE OVER A HILL OR CURVE. VERY DANGEROUS. THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS WHY ISN'T IT A RECALL? PLEASE HELP TO GET THIS RECALLED NO MATTER THE MILEAGE, WE NEED TO BE SAFE WHILE OP…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10283428 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10315530 · 2010-03-02 (March 2, 2010)
LOSS OF POWER STEERING (IN ONE DIRECTION ONLY) AT LOW SPEEDS. AFFECTS ABILITY TO PARK VEHICLE IN TIGHT SPOTS AND TO MAKE SLOW TURNS. HAVE MANAGED TO AVOID A ACCIDENT. THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR OVER A YEAR AND OVER THE LAST 15,000 MILES. THREE DIFFERENT MECHANICS GAVE VARIOUS POSSIBLE REASONS BUT NO ONE, INCLUDING THE GM SERVICE LINE, COULD GIVE A DEFINITE CURE. WAS TOLD "COULD TRY" POWER STEERING PUMP, STEERING BOX, ETC. ALL WERE COSTLY SOLUTIONS WITH NO GUARANTEE OF CURE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10315530 at NHTSA ↗